Confirmation at the Eucharist

by the Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth,

Bishop of Coventry

Christ the King Sunday 21st November 2021 at 4 pm

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The music setting for this service, sung by the Cathedral Choir, directed by Rachel Mahon, Director of Music, is the Missa Aeterna Christi Munera

by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594). The organist is Luke Fitzgerald, Assistant Director of Music.

You are welcome to take photographs, but not until after the service, please.

Common Worship: Initiation Services and Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this service booklet, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000/2006.

Other material is reproduced with permission under CCL 17597.

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The Bishop of Coventry writes… Today we celebrate that Christ is King – King of the Church and King of the world. There is a lot that happens in the world, and sometimes in the Church, that can make us wonder whether Jesus really is the King. Actually, in a very real sense we are still waiting for Jesus’ Kingship to be fully demonstrated. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and yet the world has still to recognise him fully and allow him and his ways to rule the way we live. But there will come a day when the Kingship and Lordship of Christ will be fully demonstrated – the day when he returns to fully establish his Kingdom. That’s what Advent is about: waiting with hope for that great day. This day, though – today! – is a great sign for us all of the coming of that great day when the whole world will acknowledge that Christ is King. In fact, it is also a powerful sign that God is already breaking into our world here and now, and that his Kingdom is being established in the hearts and lives of many people. Here, in our cathedral, we have people of all ages gathered from parishes across the diocese to declare that they want to live their lives fully under the Lordship of Christ, and that they are ready to follow his rule. All of this can only happen by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. So whether you are here to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit (which is what confirmation means) or whether you are here to support those who are making this step of faith – pray with me for the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the candidates, upon us all and upon the whole Church.

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Please pray for those to be baptized and confirmed today, and the parishes from which they come:

All Saints Church Allesley The Church of St John the Divine Willenhall

Holy Trinity Church Coventry St Nicolas’s Church Kenilworth St Peter’s Church Wormleighton

The Preparation

At 4 pm the Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean, welcomes the congregation and introduces a time of silent prayer. Everyone STANDS to sing as the procession moves to the Chancel.

Hymn All hail the power of Jesus’ name! let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball; now hail the Strength of Israel’s might, and crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God, who from his altar call; extol the Stem-of-Jesse’s Rod, and crown him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed of the fall, hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall, go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all.

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Let every tribe and every tongue before him prostrate fall. and shout in universal song the crowned Lord of all.

Words by E. Perronet (c.1726-1792)

Tune CP 163 Miles Lane William Shrubsole (1760-1806)

Greeting

Everyone remains STANDING as the Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, says

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All Blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Bishop adds his own words of welcome before continuing

There is one body and one spirit. All There is one hope to which we were called;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, All one God and Father of all.

Peace be with you All and also with you.

Collect

Everyone remains STANDING as the Bishop says

As we celebrate the kingship of Christ, let us pray that we may be made ready to respond to his call.

A short period of silence is kept.

God our Father, help us to hear the call of Christ the King and to follow in his service, whose kingdom has no end; for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, one glory.

All Amen.

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The Liturgy of the Word

The Old Testament Reading

Everyone SITS for the reading.

To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? An idol? —A workman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts for it silver chains. As a gift one chooses mulberry wood —wood that will not rot— then seeks out a skilled artisan to set up an image that will not topple. Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.

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Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:18-31

At the end the reader says

This is the word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Acclamation

Everyone STANDS.

During the singing of the Acclamation, the Gospel procession forms up, and moves to the centre of the Nave. Please TURN to face the Book of the Gospels as it passes.

The choir sings, and then everyone repeats

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The choir sings

You, Christ, are the King of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.

Everyone repeats the Alleluias.

Gospel Reading

When the Gospel is announced, the Reverend Kathryn Fleming, Canon for Worship & Community, Deacon, says

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. All Glory to you, O Lord.

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’

John 6.1-15

This is the Gospel of the Lord. All Praise to you, O Christ.

The organist improvises in response to the Gospel, and the preacher is conducted to the Pulpit.

The Sermon

Bishop Christopher leads us in prayer and then everyone SITS. After the sermon the Bishop is conducted back to his seat, and time is kept for reflection.

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The Liturgy of Initiation

Presentation of the Candidates

The congregation remains SEATED.

The Bishop invites the candidates for confirmation together with those who are to be received into the communion of the Church of England, to STAND in their places. He then asks them

Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? I have.

The Bishop asks all the candidates

Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ? I am.

Everyone STANDS and the Bishop says

Faith is the gift of God to his people. In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling.

People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?

All With the help of God, we will.

The Decision The Bishop addresses all the candidates

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God? I reject them.

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Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil? I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour? I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour? I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord? I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life? I come to Christ.

We sing the first three verses of the hymn, during which everyone STANDS and the procession moves to the Baptistery. Please TURN to face the Baptistery as the procession passes. Supporters of the candidates are invited to follow and gather around the Font.

Hymn

O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; be thou for ever near me, my Master and my Friend: I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.

O let me feel thee near me: the world is ever near; I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear; my foes are ever near me, around me and within; but, Jesus, draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

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O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still, above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will; O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control; O speak, and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul.

Words by J.E. Bode (1816-1874) Tune CP 538 Wolvercote W.H. Ferguson (1874-1950)

Prayer over the Water

As the water of baptism is poured into the Font, the Bishop says

God our Father, your gift of water brings life and freshness to the earth; in baptism it is a sign of the washing away of our sins and the gift of life eternal. Sanctify this water, we pray. Renew the living spring of your life within us, that we may be free from sin and filled with your saving health; through Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

Profession of Faith

The Bishop addresses the congregation

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess together with these candidates the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father? All I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ? All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

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who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit? All I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Refreshing of Baptism

The bishop sprinkles with water the candidates for confirmation and then says

Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all who have been baptized into your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

All Amen.

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The procession returns to the front of the Nave. We sing the final two verses of the hymn.

Hymn O Jesus, thou hast promised to all who follow thee, that where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be; and, Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.

O let me see thy foot-marks, and in them plant mine own; my hope to follow duly is in thy strength alone: O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end; and then in heaven receive me, my Saviour and my Friend.

Words by J.E. Bode (1816-1874) Tune CP 538 Wolvercote W.H. Ferguson (1874-1950)

Confirmation

The candidates for confirmation STAND in the space in front of the seats at the front of the Nave facing the bishop, and are joined by those presenting them.

The congregation SITS or KNEELS and the Bishop says

Our help is in the name of the Lord All who has made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord All now and for ever. Amen.

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The bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed and continues

Almighty and ever-living God, you have given these your servants new birth in baptism by water and the Spirit, and have forgiven them all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding; the Spirit of counsel and inward strength; the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord.

All Amen.

The bishop anoints each candidate with holy oil, saying

N, God has called you by name and made you his own.

They then lay hands on each candidate and continue

Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit. All Amen.

Please keep SILENCE and pray for those being confirmed.

Reception into the Communion of the Church of England

The Bishop extends his hands towards those who are to be received and says

God of mercy and love, by one Spirit we have all been baptized into one body and made to drink of the one Spirit; we thank you for the gifts you have given to these your servants for the building up of the body of Christ. Grant that they may continue in the life of the Spirit and walk with us in the light and obedience of Christ. By the same Spirit, fill the whole Church with your overflowing love; give us knowledge and discernment of your will, and steadfastness in your service, until we all come to the unity of the faith,

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to the measure of the full stature of Christ, through whom we make our prayer.

All Amen.

The Bishop takes the hand of each person to be received into the communion of the Church of England, saying

N, we recognize you as a member of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church; and we receive you into the communion of the Church of England in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All Amen.

The Bishop invites the congregation to pray

All Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

The Peace

Everyone STANDS. The Bishop says

May the God of peace make you completely holy, ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.

The deacon says

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Everyone exchanges a sign of peace with their neighbours in an appropriate way. Those who have been confirmed return to their seats.

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Offertory Song I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain, I have wept for love of them, they turn away. I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone, I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord…

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame, I will set a feast for them, my hand will save. Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied, I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord… Words by Dan Schutte (b. 1947)

Tune CP 470 Here I am, Lord Dan Schutte

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The Eucharistic Prayer

Everyone remains STANDING as the Bishop says, and everyone responds

The Lord is here. All His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For with the oil of gladness you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son, to be our great high priest and king of all creation. As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace. As king he claims dominion over all your creatures, that he may bring before your infinite majesty a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.

And so with angels and archangels and all the heavenly host, we proclaim your glory and join their unending hymn of praise:

The choir sings

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt cœli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

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The Bishop continues

We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son. On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and said: Take, eat, this my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he praised you, gave it to them and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross. Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

The deacon introduces

Great is the mystery of faith: All Christ has died:

Christ is risen: Christ will come again.

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The Bishop continues

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever.

All Amen.

The congregation SITS or KNEELS and SILENCE is kept.

The Lord’s Prayer

Please feel free to say the Lord’s Prayer in any language or version you prefer. The Bishop says

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

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The Breaking of the Bread

The Bishop breaks the consecrated bread, saying

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

All Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

The Invitation to Communion

The Bishop says

God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.

All Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Agnus Dei SECTIONSEPARATOR

The choir sings as the ministers and servers receive Communion. SECTIONSEPARATOR

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

SECTIONSEPARATOR

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

The Giving of Communion

It is our custom for this part of the service to be a time of quiet reflection. Please wait in your seat to be directed by a churchwarden or steward. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we are only distributing the bread, but Christ is still fully present in this holy gift. We do ask people to use the hand sanitiser available before coming up, and to wear masks if they are able. If you wish to receive gluten-free bread please ask and we will be happy to provide. Those who do not intend to receive Communion, but would prefer to receive a blessing, are asked to carry this booklet as an indication to the ministers. The choir sings the Anthem during the distribution.

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Anthem The Choir sings

O clap your hands together, all ye people; O sing unto God with the voice of melody. For the Lord is high, and to be feared; He is the great King of all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose out an heritage for us, ev’n the worship of Jacob, whom he loved. God is gone up with a merry noise, and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. O sing praises unto our God: O sing praises unto the Lord our King. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with the understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon his holy seat. For God, which is highly exalted, doth defend the earth, as it were with a shield. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

from Psalm 47 Music by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)

The Prayer after Communion

The congregation remains SEATED or KNEELS and silence is kept. Then the Bishop introduces

All Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

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The Sending Out

Commission

The Bishop says Those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God. Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? All With the help of God, I will.

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? All With the help of God, I will.

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ? All With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself? All With the help of God, I will.

Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice? All With the help of God, I will.

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, that you may be rooted and grounded in love and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. All Amen.

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The Blessing

Everyone STANDS and the Bishop says

Christ our King make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory; And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

All Amen.

Hymn

During the hymn, the newly confirmed return to the front of the Nave and are given lighted candles.

Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne; hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own: awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.

Crown him the Virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born, whose arm those crimson trophies won which now his brow adorn: Fruit of the mystic Rose, as of that rose the Stem; the Root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.

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Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, those wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified: no angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a sceptre sways from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise: his reign shall know no end, and round his piercèd feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time, Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime: all hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me; thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.

Words by Matthew Bridges (1800-1894) Tune CP 166 Diademata G.J. Elvey (1816-1893)

The Lighted Candles

The Bishop says

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light. You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.

All Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.

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The Dismissal

The deacon says, and everyone replies

Go in the light and peace of Christ. All Thanks be to God!

The procession moves to the West Screen.

The Organ Voluntary

A Fancy William Byrd (1543-1623)

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